‘On some levels, it’s a straightforward industry but it has significant challenges’ – Wates’ new(ish) CEO on what he’s learnt so far

By Dave Rogers2024-05-13T06:38:00

Wates boss Eoghan O’Lionaird has been in post for just over a year. He tells Dave Rogers about the challenges facing the industry, its razor thin margins, his belief in purpose over profit – and why he gave up golf

“I grew up in a large family. 10 boys, two girls. They called me 11 of 12. They can’t be bothered with my name.”

Wates chief executive Eoghan O’Lionaird likes to deadpan.

Take his first name. To be clear, is it pronounced Owen? “You are pronouncing it perfectly correctly,” he happily confirms when asked. “There is a lot of redundancy in the name but I’ve explained it, I think, once or more every day since I left Ireland. That’s a long time ago.”

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